Paris and London: Memory and Rediscovery

November 2015 saw celebrations of milestone anniversaries of two important programs: Hollins Abroad-Paris, 60 years, and Hollins Abroad-London, 40+ years. It all added up to a reason to celebrate 100+ years of Hollins Abroad programs in two of the world’s most beautiful cities.

Group at the Eiffel Tower, (photo by Margaret Rodgers ’81).

In Paris the group relived their student days by returning to Reid Hall, the program’s home base, where they met the current director, Audrey Stavrevitch, and former director Henning Nouneberg. They reconnected and remembered times past at various illustrious locations, including the Automobile Club of France, the Bristol Hotel, and the Fondation Louis Vuitton. The travelers also learned about the Prinet family at a special coffee hosted by Gail Thurman Moore ’63. Marguerite Prinet, the first director of the program, was regarded as “an intellectual pillar for generations of Hollins women.” Prinet worked with Frances Niederer, a longtime professor of art history at Hollins, to make sure visiting students saw in person the works they had studied in books.

Many members of the group traveled via the Chunnel for part two of the reunion experience. In London, they dined at the exclusive Sloane Club, participated in Evensong at Westminster Abbey, and had tea at the House of Lords.

The Paris reunion ended on Tuesday, November 10, just days before Friday’s terrorist attacks. None of those who remained behind in the city to continue their visit—and no current students on the Paris program—were injured.

London

Enjoying lunch at the Wallace Restaurant in London are Elizabeth “Libbie” Gummey Cluett ’61 and Beryl “Berry” Robison ’61 (left) and President Gray. The restaurant is located within the Wallace Collection gallery, which houses some of the best paintings, porcelain, and furnishings in the United Kingdom (photo by Suzy Mink ’74).